GenSan now under state of calamity

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Local disaster officials and members of the City Council have agreed to declare a state of calamity in this city due to the damage brought about by the long dry spell in several villages here.

In a meeting on Thursday, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) concurred with the resolution approved earlier by the City Council which declared the entire city under a state of calamity.

Local disaster action officer Bong Dacera had earlier been reluctant to accept the recommendation by members of the City Council to put the entire city under a state of calamity, as he maintained that only 14 out of the 26 villages of the city were affected by the drought.

But the City Councilors assailed the local disaster officials for their inaction to mitigate the effects of the long dry spell, particularly on local farmers.

Councilor Rosalita Nunez said the declaration of the city under a state of calamity was urgently needed for the disbursement of calamity funds amounting to 80 million.

The city government could not disburse the calamity funds for relief assistance without the corresponding declaration by the city council of a state of calamity.

However, due to the insistence of the members of the City Council, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera convened the CDRRMC to adopt the resolution of the City Council declaring the entire city under a state of calamity. (Joseph Jubelag)